ALBUQUEQUE, N.M. (AP) — The fate of a former New Mexico school superintendent accused of leaking information about a Columbus, NM gun-smuggling ring linked to the Juarez Cartel is in the hands of a jury. The Albuquerque Journal reports an eight-woman, four-man jury began deliberations Thursday in the case involving Danny Burnett. He faces federal charges that he leaked information about a wiretap investigation into a gun-smuggling ring in the town of Columbus. Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven Spitzer told the jury that there was plenty of evidence that pointed a finger at Burnett as the source of the information. But Burnett's attorney, Jacquelyn Robins, says one of the prosecutors' key witnesses was a corrupt police chief who was on the cartel's payroll and had much to gain by lying.

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Persons named on the Crime Report are to be considered innocent until final disposition of the case is made by a court. ____________________________